Stevie-winner Yedir is a technology-driven company operating in the food delivery sector in Türkiye with a unique focus on connecting local home chefs with nearby customers.
The platform offers fresh, homemade meals while enabling individuals, particularly those who have not previously participated in the delivery sector, to do so. By harnessing advanced technologies like AI, the Yedir App has created a solution that supports both customers and chefs, transforming the way food delivery services function.Founded in May 2023, Yedir quickly gained attention for its innovative approach. The platform launched its final, improved version in May 2024, bringing with it a host of features designed to enhance the customer experience. These include ingredient-based meal suggestions, optimized pricing for chefs, and personalized recommendations for customers. Yedir’s success stems from addressing an unmet need in the market—connecting customers with healthy, home-cooked meals while offering local chefs the opportunity to build and grow their businesses.
Since its launch, Yedir has experienced impressive growth. By May 2024, the app had expanded to onboard 152 home chefs across 18 cities in Türkiye, with a daily growth rate of 7%. This rapid expansion was fueled by a clear market demand and a non-advertising spread strategy that saw the app reach over 1,000 users.
The platform actively contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including economic empowerment, food security, and gender equality. By offering home cooks, many of whom are women, a way to monetize their cooking skills, the app provides them with financial independence and professional development opportunities.
Moreover, Yedir ensures the health and safety of customers by adhering to stringent hygiene standards, collaborating with the Food Engineering and Gastronomy departments at İzmir University of Economics to provide training programs for chefs. This holistic approach not only improves the culinary landscape but also supports the broader goal of sustainable and inclusive growth.
In addition to its technical innovation and social impact, Yedir's success also lies in its ability to address challenges faced by home chefs. Many chefs were previously unaware of how to start and scale their businesses. Yedir created solutions that allowed these chefs to work within a flexible framework, choosing their own menus, days, and times to sell meals, which gave them more control over their business operations.
This business model, along with Yedir’s collaboration with local food companies and authorities, helped to establish home cooking as a recognized profession in Türkiye. The app’s allergen filters, calorie content display, and other health-conscious features ensure that the meals offered are safe, nutritious, and compliant with EU standards.
Yedir won a Bronze Stevie Award for Startup of the Year – Consumer Services Industries in The 2024 International Business Awards.
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